Lucretia J. Weed's Copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth

Lucretia and Peter Weed of Congdon & Weed, Inc., oversaw the publication of a number of cartoon book collections by some of the New Yorker cartoonists whose work we fondly recollect. They include George Booth, Frank Modell, George Price, Charles Saxon, and James Stevenson—quite possibly others as well. What's interesting about Lucretia's copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth, his 1984 collection, is not so much the inscription but the small archive of letters, clippings, and stationery that accompany it.

Imagine being the recipient of a handwritten letter from Booth. Despite the informal tone, he does talk some business. There is humor here as well.

Isn't it just like Booth to use a Laurel & Hardy stamp?

In 1993, Booth contributed an energetic drawing and some encouraging wordage, both equally unique, to the Smith College Alumnae Fund, of which Lucretia was apparently cochair for the Class of '59. Booth offers "an occasional apology to E. Gorey" which I find baffling. Is he giving a tip of the hat to Gorey for The Curious Sofa (1961)? For this?

Personally, I don't know how anyone threw away this 1987 copy of the New York Times Book Review.

The same thing goes for the "Weekend" section of The Missourian, although I probably don't know any subscribers.

It would have been a blast to see Norene and George's work side by side at the Davis Gallery, no?

The Omnibooth front cover—more is more:

George Booth and cat:

Endpaper extravaganza:

Inscribed, "For Lucretia!
George Booth."

Title page

George Booth
eBay listing ended June 10, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405533252708?_skw=Omnibooth+signed&epid=5154231&itmmeta=01JZPFPVEMVGN3PSYZQCKHKYGX&hash=item5e6baa5c64:g:P1wAAOSwyx1nqOla&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eduzQWvqbA4jUaVcgNZai3CTA5UaAc0hsxXYASagqJPWmXJCpOLMFqSBUJiT%2FhhXENo3llOlBsUr5pgWmob2a0UFZk%2

BDxWmxjzc%2F0fmzu%2BfbvHuacwtXDEe6h6GB66BCeL4%2B9lEXvI%2Ft9UcXnylS5ODgE4YTLXvMsCo3VnR4mKChQgVZkD7h8Q5rQ%2BYdUj5z0%2FeCah4zqnd03TPN70yw4jc0g%2BuzY%2BCCD%2FEPfJW1NpAm%2FGEeqWrP6LEb2a2yQxMIkq2GgOcYgh%2BgXB1RTCwbjBi1CyxZaFILaHjkYAIyjo0w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7C328_9ZQ

". . . signed by [editor] Kenneth R. Hine." Are we looking at the same book?
George Booth
eBay item description

August 23, 2025 Update:  The book has now made its way from eBay to AbeBooks, where it is listed by Jan's Collectibles of Bethany, MO. There are far better photographs of the Weekend article and The New York Times Book Review cover which I append below. Oh, and the price for the ensemble is now $400.

George Booth
AbeBooks listing accessed August 23, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Omnibooth-Best-George-Booth-Congdon-Weed/32275199230/bd

George Booth
AbeBooks item description

September 25, 2025 Update:  Now at ten percent off.

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A Walt Disney Sketch of Mickey Mouse

So many purported Walt Disney autographs were actually signed by his personnel that it's refreshing to see an autograph penned by Disney himself when he was away visiting his family in Ireland, far from the usual studio set of secretaries and animators. Of course, it's all the better that there is a drawing included of the world's most beloved mouse.

Presale estimate

"To ANNE
WITH BEST WISHES
WALT DISNEY"

Judy Garland's autograph

Autographs of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

The autograph album

Walt Disney
RR Auction
February 2020

https://www.rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3424108

Note:  Readers in possession of their own autograph albums this breathtaking, or nearly so, might want to make other readers envious by sending a few heartbreakingly beautiful scans to Attempted Bloggery. My readers can take it.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Walt Disney

Judy Garland

Laurel and Hardy

Autographs

Attempted Bloggery's Entertaining Index

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George Booth Menu Items

Original 1979 cartoon art by George Booth, who turned 90 this week, offers a glimpse at how the artist goes about creating his unique world. The setting is an ornately-detailed greasy spoon. The two cooks, as unlike as Laurel and Hardy, are drawn to different scales with outlandish differences in height, bulk, and personality—and note, for example, the wildly exaggerated differences in arm circumference! The caption is way out of proportion too, as oversized and ungainly as the speaker. This is a frontal assault on the economy of New Yorker captions, yet the caption is as carefully crafted as any a fraction of its length. There is an air of perfectionism about many of Mr. Booth's drawings as well, with glued bits of paper used to optimize the details while unwanted ink is painted over broadly with white.

"Your Big Jumbo, Roy, is your regular Jumbo with golden French
fries and coleslaw. Your Super Jumbo is your Big Jumbo with slice
of onion, lettuce, tomato, special dressing, and pickle wedge. I've
been watching you, Roy. You're screwing up on the pickle wedge."
George Booth, Original art
The New Yorker, May 14, 1979, page 31

Caption

George Booth, The New Yorker, May 14, 1979, page 31

"Your Big Jumbo, Roy, is your regular Jumbo with golden French
fries and coleslaw. Your Super Jumbo is your Big Jumbo with slice
of onion, lettuce, tomato, special dressing, and pickle wedge. I've
been watching you, Roy. You're screwing up on the pickle wedge."
George Booth, The New Yorker, May 14, 1979, page 31

"Your Big Jumbo, Roy, is your regular Jumbo with golden French
fries and coleslaw. Your Super Jumbo is your Big Jumbo with slice
of onion, lettuce, tomato, special dressing, and pickle wedge. I've
been watching you, Roy. You're screwing up on the pickle wedge."
George Booth, Original art
The New Yorker, May 14, 1979, page 31

Note:  This artwork is in the private collection of "a New Yorker magazine brat" who graciously shared it with us. My thanks.

There is a lot more to see on this blog about the art of George Booth. There are also many examples of original New Yorker cartoon art. Explore the wonders of the art form!

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The Comedians: Lost in Translation

From today's poster sale at Swann Auction Galleries, two classic comedy teams are depicted in three overseas movie posters. Mickey Mouse joins Laurel and Hardy for good measure.

Jano, The Marx Brothers, "Un Dia en las Carreras"

Laurel and Hardy, "Hijos del Desierto"

Stanlio e Ollio 

Swann Auction Galleries, February 12, 2015, Lot 197
Hammer Price $350

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2373+++++197+&refno=++690763

Swann Auction Galleries, February 12, 2015, Lot 198
Hammer Price $350

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2373+++++198+&refno=++690777

Swann Auction Galleries, February 12, 2015, Lot 199
Unsold

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2373+++++199+&refno=++690759

Note:  Check out more of my blog posts featuring posters.

You know, I also have more about Marxism.

And more Laurel & Hardy.

01426

With Laurel and Hardy's Best Wishes

The boys are looking dapper in this 1931 publicity photo inscribed to Jack Ogilvie of the Hal Roach Studios. It will be sold on May 5 at Bonhams in Los Angeles.

Stax Graves, Laurel and Hardy, Hal Roach Studios, 1931

Inscribed to Jack Ogilvie

Bonhams Los Angeles, May 5, 2013

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20984/lot/3012/

Stax Graves, Laurel and Hardy, Hal Roach Studios, 1931

Inscribed to Jack Ogilvie

Bonhams Los Angeles, May 5, 2013

May 5, 2013 Update:  Sold for US$1,375 including premium.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20984/lot/3012/

Stax Graves, Laurel and Hardy, Hal Roach Studios, 1931

Inscribed to Jack Ogilvie

Bonhams Los Angeles, May 5, 2013

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20984/lot/3012/

Laurel and Hardy in
"Chickens Come Home" (1931)
Directed by James W. Horne

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